I finally posted out letters to all the people who won at the Geography Pub Quiz in April (DW/LJ). I think this sets a record for the longest it's taken me to fulfill a promise for post. My apologies.

All the extra Dreamwidth points I purchased have been distributed to nominated recipients (and a couple of others). Thank you to those who participated in the nominations.

Passenger and I recently passed the twenty-week mark together so we are now more than halfway through the pregnancy. I honoured this landmark by listening to this on repeat for a day or so. "Ohhhh we're halfway there/WHAAHOOH livin' on a prayer/Take my hand, we'll make it I swear/WHAAHOOH livin' on a prayer." THE HAIR. \m/ \m/

[YouTube video of Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer", 04:09]

I ran a small, last-minute, poorly organised outreach event at a school in Woodford (east London) today. There were only ten* students in attendance. I was told there were going to be thirty.

Normally this would make me rather angry, as it was pretty far out of my way and took up half a day of work. Not today.

As soon as I walked in the room, I saw the girl sitting in the front row turn expectantly toward the door. She fastened her eyes to my face and they strayed for scarcely a moment for the hour and ten minutes I was there. Nearly every question I posed was answered by her. Correctly. No sooner did I ask it than all the other students in the room - boys and girls alike - turned toward her to see if she would speak. I tried to share my attention equally out among the students, but it was quite clear she was the star of the set. And I could see this written on her face throughout: I am going to be her when I grow up. I desperately wanted to tell her, You already are, and you will surpass me.

It was worth being there just for her sake.

(Did I mention that she was stunningly pretty? I bet all the boys are terrified of her.)

Only two of the ten students were white. And half of them were girls. This also helped make it worth while.

Absolutely. I made a (very gentle) plug for Imperial and for the space & astro groups at the end, but I didn't want to belabour the point as I think they were all sold on doing science degrees already.

The (now teenaged) son of a friend of mine was up on stage in a live and VERY LOUD rock performance shortly before his birth. He's turned out fine. His Mum did have to work quite hard to get enough breath in for belting out "Black Powder and Alchohol", though, what with junior pushing her diaphragm halfway up her ribcage... =:o>